Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1789-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more

Download & Play

Questions

Newspaper Page Text

10 TRUTH '
H THE ONLY WOMAN MASON.
V In a little pamplot published by J.
H P. Dablngton at Bowling Green, Vn
m therd Is given tlio story of tlio circum-
n stances by which one woman becamo
w "a Blue Lodge Mason." This woman,
ft we aro told, is the only ono of her sex
H who has gained the secrets of mason-
W ry. In the town where she was
H1 brought up the school which she at-
M, tended occupied the first floor of n
H two-story frame building. The top
Ki floor had been originally designed for
H, a church, and n pulpit and other
1 church furnlturo had been Installed,
M but later this plan was abandoned and
H. tho masonic lodge secured the place
a, for their meetings. Under tho unused
H"' pulpit the girl, Catherine Sweet, one
H day discovered an excellent hiding-
Hl place when playing hide-and-seek. La-
H' tcr she utilized it during sessions of
H the lodge and gained many secrets of
H masonry. Of her discovery and fur-
H ther advuiturcs we read:
H For more than a year sho had been
H an unobserved attendant at all the
and find out, if possible, what sho had
learned about masonry. "She was sum
moned to appear for what she thought
would be her death sentence, as she
had been led to bellovo that no one
was allowed to live who stole tho se
crets of masonry.
It was at this time that she showed
her courage in a way that probably
saved her a vast amount of trouble.
Sho entered tho presence of her un
cles, all of whom sho knew loved her
better than they did their own lives,
with a firm step and head erect. As
soon as sho was seated tho eldest
brother becamo spokesman and the
following conversation took place:
Uncle "Kate, tell us where you
havo been this evening?"
Kate "Under tho pulpit In tho
lodgo room."
"What were you doing there?"
"Watching and listening."
"Was this your first visit?"
"No, sir."
"How long have you been doing
this?"
"For a year and a half, or ever since
H Scene from "UNDER SOUTHERN SKIES"
H meetings of tho lodge. She had, on
H sovoral occasions run some narrow
H escapes, but a day came when she
H failed In her caluclations.
H As beforo mentioned tho members
M of tho lodgo always carried their rifles
M whon they attended tho meetings. On
M this fatal day ono of her uncles loft
H his rifle in tho intp-room and had gona
m somo distance beforo ho thought of
M it. Ho retraced his steps and as ho
m approached tho building ho saw Kate
M crawling out from her placo of con-
M ccalment Sho discovered him v.'
tfM about the samo timo and she kne
that a day of reckoning was at hand.
m "When sho readied tho ground hor un-
M clo told her to return homo and go to
M her room and stay thoro until ho came
H for her. Upon her unclo's return ho
M called lilfl brothers and they went into
H their ' nee. -After relating what ho
m had seen they decided to call Kato in
John William was Initiated."
"Havo you been ablo to learn any of
tho secrets of the lodgo?"
"Yes, sir. All of them."
"Well, tell us all you know."
"I will answer all questions you may
ask me, for I am a mason and am
willing to answer questions when
properly put to me, but I can not give
you my knowledge of masonry in any
other way."
"Whore shall I commence and what
kind of questions shall I ask you?"
"Begin at tho beginning and ask
such questions as you would ask a
stranger if you wanted him to prove
to you that ho was a mason."
Seeing that sho would not impart
her masonic information in any other
way or manner tho brothers decided
that it would bo best to put her
through tho regular catechism, which
they proceeded to do. Tho masonic
reader can understand tho looks and
feelings of tho five brothers as tho
examination proceeded and they dis
covered that their seventeen-year-old
niece was better versed In tho secrets
of freemasonry than either of them.
Tho trial camo to an end when they
reached tho point when she revealed to
them that she hadoven caught tho
words that aro spoken by tho master
of tho lodgo when tho candidate is fin
nally raised to the degree of a master
mason. The pulpit stood near the
After all was over, and Kate told
the brothers that no one, except them
selves, knew what she had done, she
was confined In her room and closely
watched pending tho decision of the
lodgo as to tho proper steps to be
taken in her case. The master of the
lodge was at once told of what had
taken place. Each member was noti
fied of a call communication to bo
held the next day. When tho lodgo
assembled it went into a committee
of tho whole and after hours of delib
eration, adjourned to meet again tho
next day. Messengers wore sent out,
and tho oldest and wisest members of
other lodges were called in to consult
and advise. Long and earnestly did
they discuss the matter. Many differ
ent suggestions were made, but none
seamed practical.
The laws of masonry, which had
been in force ever since the days of
King Solomon, said plainly that no
woman could bo made a mason. Yet
here was a young girl who had all the
secrets of maponry that could be ob
tained in tho Blue Lodge. The ques
tion arose "What was to bo done?"
Almost a month was consumed by tho
lodgo in discussing the matter and
consulting tho most learned masons
of tho state. At last It was decided
that, Inasmuch as Kate Sweet had ob
tained all the secrets of freemasonry,
tho only thing that, could be done was
to obligate her in the regular way,
and risk the conseauences. According
ingly n suitable uniform was made of
red flannel, and she was taken to tho
lodge, where she was obligated as a
regular mason, but not admitted to
membership.
Tho day she took tho obligation was
the first and last timo that sho was ov
er inside a masonic lodgo (where sho
could be seen) while It was at work.
Sho knew masonry and kept herself
posted up until a short time before
her death, but never attempted to vis
it a lodge.
Many Instances aro related in the
pamphlet in which sho found hor
knowledge of masonry of help when
sho needed assistance.
o
An Easy Mark.
Tho following Is told as having oc
curred in the lobby of tho Palmer
House, Chicago:
A guest camo In from tho street,
took off his overcoat, folded it caro
, fully and placed It over tho back of a
chair and then su on It, producing a
newspaper and soon becoming ab
sorbed In its contents. Beforo long a
stranger tapped him on tho shoulder
and politely asked If ho would please
get up and let him have the overcoat
ho was sitting on. Tho guest obliging
ly arose and handed his own coat to
tho stranger and then seating himself
again continued to read tho paper.
Suddenly it dawned upon him that ho
had made a fool of himself. Ho be
camo excited, and rushing over to tho
desk told tho clerk tho circumstances
of tho robbery.
The clerk listened patiently and
then quietly said: "I'll tell you what
to do. You go back and sit where- you
were and wait; thon when tho rascal
comes and asks for your shoes you
can nab him." Short Stories.
DR. BROADBENT'S ' j
Dental Ofllce moved from Eagle block I
t0
600-601 Scott Building, 1G8 Main,
Over King's Hardware Store.
o
Write for our free booklet
DESCENT AND DISTRIBUTION
of p
HEAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY. 9
SALT LAKE
SECURITY & TRUST COMPANY,
Salt Lake City.
Walkers'
Annual
Sale of
Dress Goods
Begins
Monday
The Greatest
' Reductions
on Good
Seasonable
Fabrics ever
Made in
Salt Lake City.
From the
Most
Inexpensive
Weaves up to
the Finest
Imported
Fabrics ,
this Sale
includes
Everything. -
No Reserve.
wm